Islam: Monolithic or Multifarious? Ask a Muslim Mystic
April 19, 2008 by LO
As the world awakens to the growing Muslim population one of the new questions facing Christians is whether all Muslims are alike. While we Christians are no strangers to wide streams of diversity within our own religion, strangely we have had a hard time of allowing the possibility of diversity within Islam. Perhaps we should spend more time listening to Muslims themselves explain their own diversity, as is the goal of A Mystical Journey, a group of Sufi and other esoteric Muslims traveling across America to share their diverse expression of mystical Muslim traditions.
Subscribe by e-mail
I wanted to comment here because as the weeks have gone by it has been more and more apparent to me that Christians need to work to reach out to the Muslim population. I have greatly appreciated the often thought provoking postings that led me to begin looking into Islam (not to convert to it, but understand it).
One of the growing concerns I have had is the Christian community’s ability to communicate to its congregation the importance of reaching out and being involved in the world. It has all to often led to a strict antithesis of “us vs. them” which I think Scripture repudiates as God’s intention for His church in the world. I have often noticed a lack in understanding when it comes to maintaining the “already-not yet” aspect of Christianity. I mean by this that the Christian community is very much a part of the this life and by being identified with the church has in no way hermetically sealed us away from our need to reach out (I think it the duty of the church to do so as fulfilling its calling to be a light and salt for the generation). We do not gain instant perfection that then we must defend from being tainted, but we are very much sinners under grace. We still have need to stand near the cross and be reminded again of our first love. Redemptive history is still working towards consummation.
Also, a deficient understanding of the cross and what significance it holds for us. The cross and Christ’s death is every evidence to the reality of sin and our identity as sinners. Christ crucified does not leave us after coming to it in faith, but rather is our identity as Christians, but this in no way should ignore the “not yet” aspect, Christ risen (every Christian truly held in Christ through faith has become a new creation). The cross is also, a sign of God’s compassion. God has acted to redeem and sustain those who have entered into the covenant of grace. If Christ’s actions in this world are evidence of God’s compassion upon sin, then how much more the Christian in being a light to the world must reflect compassion for those who are perishing. Ours is a ministry of compassionate reconciliation. I am not saying that we hold a “Christians and Muslims Together” Forum, but rather that we take it to heart to seek understanding Muslims and realize that it is very much a part of fulfilling our calling to evangelize. Because we understand ourselves as sinners clothed with an alien righteousness which will lead us right in how we should carry out the message of the Gospel (I contend it be with a bleeding heart). Never stray too far from the cross, to where the glory of the future overshadows the present and likewise do not let the vision of future glory fall from your eyes as you cling to cross for grace to carry you to that glorious day.
Thank you Laurence for your wonderful posts on Islam. God, enlargen my heart to see beyond that which I feel I can accept.